Nolan Arenado Calls Out His Fellow MLB Superstars
Some players opted not to participate in the 2023 World Baseball Classic to focus on the MLB season, get to know new teammates, and maintain a regular spring schedule.
Others wanted to participate but were persuaded by their teams not to, or had lots of restrictions.
Others, like the New York Mets’ Max Scherzer, felt they weren’t ready for the intensity of a playoff-like game in the spring.
However, those who decided to represent their countries are not only proud, but happy they did it because they are living a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Team USA’s Nolan Arenado doesn’t have any regrets.
He has been proudly representing America even though his father is Cuban, and he is urging some of his fellow stars to be more open about the tournament in the future.
Do you agree?
(h/t @BNightengale) pic.twitter.com/mw6nutZjBU
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 19, 2023
He says there is no reason more stars aren’t playing with their countries.
Of course, not everybody thinks like Arenado.
Some of them want to protect their bodies and keep spring activities to lower leverage situations.
And that’s fair, but they are missing out on something special.
The World Baseball Classic has evolved from an “extended spring training” to quite literally baseball’s World Cup.
Stadiums are often full, people are talking about the event on social media, and ratings are the best ever for a WBC.
That’s growth right there.
MLB decided to have countries play where they have sizable communities living there, and that has been a hit.
Baseball, more than ever, is a global sport, and playing in the WBC is as exciting as ever.
Arenado can relate: he, and many of his teammates, have said they have seen some of the most electric crowds ever in the tournament.
Players should, at least once in their careers, get to experience it.